Douglas Walker

Biography

Experienced researcher with 40+ years in the space and defense industry working mainly in systems and reliability engineering and software development.  Work experience includes NASA at the Johnson Space Center for crew training the first space shuttle astronaut crews and Mission Planning and Analysis for STS-3 through STS-8. Researcher for University of Texas Applied Research Laboratories and Lockheed Martin Aerospace. Currently Senior Tech Fellow with Prime Solutions Group.

Education

• Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Astronomy, University of Canterbury
• M.S. - Master of Science in Systems Engineering: Computer and Systems Engineering, University of Houston
• M.S. - Master of Science in Mathematical Science, University of Houston-Clear Lake
• M. - Master in Astronomy, James Cook University

Currently Teaching

• MATH 111: Pre-calculus for Aviation

Professional Experience

Classroom Teaching Experience:

Estrella Mountain Community College

Avondale, Arizona, 2016 – 2018, 2008 - 2012
Adjunct Faculty

Mathematics

Taught various mathematics courses including college algebra, linear algebra, discrete mathematics, statistics, and business mathematics. Develop course outline and objectives, wrote and presented lectures and administer exams and quizzes.

Astronomy

Taught introductory astronomy courses and special project classes focusing on double star observations and low-resolution spectroscopy. Developed course outline and objectives, selected specific material to cover, selected required texts, wrote, and presented lectures. Results of special projects have been presented at conferences and published in online journals.

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona, 2016
Adjunct Faculty

Taught statistical mathematics courses. Developed course outline and objectives, wrote and presented lectures, wrote and administered exams and quizzes.

University of Canterbury

Christchurch, New Zealand, 2014 – 2015

Lecturer

Taught part of course sequence in astronomy focusing on stellar astronomy. Taught labs for dynamical astronomy and solar system astronomy. Taught astronomy sections as special lecture series on astronomy in Antarctic as part of introductory course in Antarctic. Taught physics labs.

Austin Community College

Austin, Texas, 1988 - 1994
Adjunct Faculty

Taught undergraduate mathematics courses of linear algebra, business mathematics, statistics, calculus I, and calculus II. Developed course outline and objectives, selected specific material to cover, wrote and presented lectures, wrote, and administered exams and quizzes.

Industry Experience:

Prime Solutions Group, Inc

Goodyear, Arizona, 2021-present

Senior Technical Fellow

Senior researcher focusing on advanced geospatial systems design and algometric solutions across the remote sensing spectrum. Research into applications of AI/ML/DL and especially deep learning Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) tools and agile development approaches.

SearchPros Consultant for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

Fort Worth, Texas, 2019-2021

Software Consultant

Working to implement Agile software approaches across Mission Planning Environment (MPE). Activities include setting up scrum and Kanban teams in Atlassian Jira bug and issue tracking management system, collecting and reporting on statistics on team performance and develop training material for teams and various levels of management. Investigations of tools and techniques of modeling SPAR introduction rates.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Goodyear, Arizona, 1994 – 2013 – Early Retirement

Project Engineer
Led development of software and hardware for advanced systems for military unmanned systems and space applications. Worked closely with program manager to achieve project goals and improvements over tight delivery schedules. Successfully pursued and won $10 and $20 million multi-year contracts for continued operations. Oversaw all scientific and technical goals including reviewing all scientific reports. Conducted project briefings to all levels of management.

Operations Group Manager

Managed Specialty Engineering Group which included obsolescence engineering, logistics support, reliability engineering development and analysis, manuals and training. Managed all aspects of personnel supervision and work objectives including hiring and performance reviews.  

Research Engineer
Developed mathematical models to support reliability and performance designs for high performance computing systems and unmanned aerial systems. Developed system engineering requirements for project Preliminary and Detailed Design Reviews. Trained new groups of engineers in mathematical reliability theory and systems engineering.  Designated as chief reliability engineer for division.

University of Texas Applied Research Laboratories

Austin, Texas, 1986 – 1994

Senior Research Scientist
Developed applications of Kalman filters to towed sonar array systems and autonomous untethered submersibles. Researched applications of differential game theory to anti-submarine warfare utilizing both torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets. Led development of software systems for collecting communication systems data from operational battlefield scenarios.

NASA - Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas, 1978 – 1986

Aerospace Engineer/Mission Planning and Analysis

Developed onboard navigation software for space shuttle for on-orbit and rendezvous phases. Designated as onboard navigation console mission manager for space shuttle flights STS-3 through 8 supporting Flight Dynamics Officer during mission operations. Investigated new approaches for on-orbit station keeping utilizing stability of dynamical systems equations representing shuttle and target vehicle state vectors.

Aerospace Engineer/Flight Operations
Training engineer for onboard space shuttle computer and navigation systems for space shuttle flights STS 1 and 2. Simulation team member supporting end-to-end mission simulation involving astronaut and mission control crew. Developed training script scenarios to insert simulated system malfunctions during flight phases. Developed crew training material and taught first series of classroom instruction for new shuttle astronauts.